Page 9 of The Truth about the Rogue
“You spoke to him?” Miss Marshall whispered, only for the gentleman to come to stand directly beside them, his eyes alight with evident humor, the edge of his lip curving.
“I do believe that I said I would purchase this for you, my Lady,” he said, holding out his hand for the book. “It was my fault and–”
“No, thank you.” Charlotte forced a smile, her nerves taut. “I want to purchase it for myself. It is no trouble. Besides which, it was an accident.”
“All the same.”
The gentleman reached forward and made to pluck it from her hand as he had done before, but Charlotte moved back, avoiding him and, in one swift motion, turning towards the shopkeeper.
“Good afternoon. Might I purchase this, if you please?”
The shopkeeper was an older man who smiled warmly and set Charlotte at ease, only for that smile to fade as he looked to the gentleman who, to Charlotte’s frustration, came to stand directly beside her.
“I shall be paying for this.”
Irritated now at his insistence, Charlotte turned to the gentleman, her chin lifting.
“I have already stated that I have no desire for you to purchase this on my behalf. Why must you be so determined, when I have already said no?”
The gentleman grinned at her and, despite her protestations and her upset, Charlotte’s heart beat wildly for a few moments as his full attention was placed upon her. Yes, she determined, this gentlemanwasa rogue for, in knowing what he had said to her previously about seeking a rendezvous, she could tell from his easy smile, the twinkle in his eye, and the way that he tilted his head and lifted his eyebrow, that he was nothing but a flirt.
“I know that young ladies such as yourself are often told that they must not accept gifts, especially from those that they are not acquainted with, but on this occasion I believe that it is merited.”
“And I do not.”
The gentleman’s smile faded just a little.
“Goodness, I had not expected a young lady of quality to be so stubborn!”
Charlotte lifted her chin, her stomach knotting, though she forced herself to speak just as firmly as she could.
“And I did not expect a gentleman to be seeking out a rendezvous in the middle of a bookshop!” she exclaimed, her face burning hot as she heard the bookshop owner make a small sound in the back of his throat, though he continued to wrap her book in brown paper and did not look at her. “Nor did I expect a gentleman of thetonto refuse to accept the request of a young lady, but to insist upon having his own way! That, I think, is not in the least bit gentlemanly – especially since we are not yet acquainted. That is the worst of it, is it not? We ought to have been properly acquainted, correctly introduced, and instead, you have insisted upon speaking with me and forcing your intentions upon me without so much as a thought!”
This was more than Charlotte would normally have ever said in public, more than she would have ever stated aloud had she been in company, and yet, withthisgentleman, she felt herself emboldened. Whether it was his manner, his arrogance or his clear flirtation, something about him made Charlotte want to stand up against him and make it perfectly clear to him that she was not about to be taken in by him… and that meant refusing to accept his offer of purchasing her book.
“My word, you are rather fiery, are you not?”
“No, she is not usually,” Miss Marshall put in, coming to place herself directly between Charlotte and the gentleman. “Mayhap it is simply thatyouhave brought that determination out in her character, good sir? Though to my eyes, it is not unfairly brought.”
This made the gentleman’s smile break apart completely, a scowl replacing it.
“I hardly think–”
“Might I complete my purchase?” Charlotte asked, taking out her pin money and speaking directly to the shopkeeper rather than listen to the gentleman any longer. “If you please.”
“But of course, my Lady.”
The shopkeeper named his price and Charlotte paid him directly, making certain that there was no opportunity for this gentleman to step in between them and press the money into the shopkeeper’s hand.
“I thank you.”
With a warm smile, Charlotte turned to take her leave, Miss Marshall beside her, though she did not say a single word to the gentleman. Pulling the door open, she stepped back to permit another lady to walk inside only to see the lady’s eyes flare and a light smile spread across her face, her cheeks filling with color. Curious, she turned her head and watched for a few moments as the lady made her way towards the gentleman directly, one hand reaching out to greet him so that he might bow over it.
“His rendezvous, I expect,” she murmured, darkly, only for the gentleman’s eyes to catch hers. He was not smiling, his hazel eyes seeming to turn very dark indeed as he looked back at her. With a shake of her head, Charlotte turned away and made her way out of the shop directly, Miss Marshall following her. “Goodness, what a disagreeable fellow!” Charlotte exclaimed the moment the door closed. “I found myself very irritated indeed.”
“I could tell,” Miss Marshall returned, a slight lilt in her voice. “I do not think that I have ever heard you speak so boldly! Though I will not say that it was not justified.”
Charlotte offered her friend a brief smile, feeling a little embarrassed that shehadspoken with such strength.
